Hakata dialect

Hakata dialect (博多弁, Hakata-ben) is a Japanese dialect spoken in Fukuoka city. Hakata dialect originated in Hakata commercial district, while a related Fukuoka dialect (福岡弁, Fukuoka-ben) was spoken in the central district. Hakata dialect has spread throughout the city and its suburbs. Most Japanese regard Hakata dialect as the dialect typical of Fukuoka Prefecture, so it is sometimes called Fukuoka-ben.

Hakata dialect is being increasingly spoken in television interviews in Fukuoka, where previously standard Japanese was expected.

Hakata-ben, a dialect of Kyushu with historically strong ties to Okinawa (Ryukyu), retains a rich vocabulary that appears to share roots with the Ryukyuan languages. One example is the Okinawan word フーチバー, which means "mugwort." In Hakata-ben, related terms such as フツ and フツッパ (literally "leaf of フツ") are used, suggesting a common linguistic origin.